Strong and effective US foreign assistance programs are crucial components of a US global development policy. They are also vital to US national interests, enhancing global stability, expanding economic opportunities and promoting American values. The history of US foreign assistance has shown important successes. But the US. foreign assistance apparatus, designed during the Cold War era, has grown out-of-date to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The mission, mandate and organizational structure must be rebuilt and revitalized. Recent studies and reviews by the Obama administration and nongovernmental stakeholders have given greater momentum to redesigning US assistance in ways that make it more effective. Translating principles into action will be difficult and possibly fraught with setbacks. The Rethinking US Foreign Assistance program tracks the progress being made to create a coordinated and coherent system that can meet development challenges and objectives.
CGD has been an active participant in a broad-based effort to situate development as a key component in promoting global stability and to strengthen US. assistance programs, including through the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN). As part of this ongoing effort, the Center's Rethinking US Foreign Assistance program aims to:
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Create a one-stop-shop for information, dialogue and analysis on US foreign assistance innovations and reform.
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Provide CGD expert opinion on how to reform the mission, mandate and organizational structure of US foreign assistance.
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Contribute to the ongoing effort to elevate global development and US foreign assistance as a critical national interest priority.
Sarah Jane Staats joined CGD as the program director in June 2012. She previously served as CGD’s director of policy outreach where she led the Center’s engagement with the development policy community, especially senior staff in the US Congress, the US administration and development advocacy NGOs.
Follow @SJStaats on twitter.
